Topic Contents

Bad or Changed Breath

Topic Overview

When is bad breath most likely to occur?

Everybody
has bad breath from time to time, especially first thing in the morning. You
also may have bad breath when you are hungry, when you are dieting, or after
eating foods with a strong odor, such as garlic, onions, or pastrami.

What causes bad breath?

Many things can cause bad
breath. A major cause is decreased
saliva. Saliva has a cleaning action that helps reduce
or eliminate bad breath. When saliva decreases, bacteria can grow, causing bad
breath.

Bad breath caused by a decrease in saliva may be
especially noticeable:

In the morning. The flow of saliva almost
stops during sleep. The reduced cleaning action of the saliva allows bacteria
to grow, causing bad breath.

When you are hungry. Bad breath is
more common in people who miss meals or are dieting. Chewing food increases
saliva in the mouth. When you are not eating, saliva decreases and bacteria
growth increases, causing bad breath.

When you are
dehydrated. When you become dehydrated, you do not
produce as much saliva. The reduced cleaning action of the saliva allows
bacteria to grow, causing bad breath.

Chew sugar-free gum, suck on sugar-free mints, or drink water,
especially if your mouth is dry. Try using breath sticks, which contain the
ingredients found in a mouthwash and dissolve in your mouth.

Remove
dentures, removable bridges, partial plates, or orthodontic appliances and
clean them once each day or as directed by your dentist. Pieces of food and
germs can collect on these appliances and cause bad breath.

Use a
mouthwash for temporary relief of bad breath. Swish it around in your mouth for
30 seconds before spitting it out.

Have regular dental
checkups.

Make an appointment to see an ear, nose, and throat
specialist (otolaryngologist) if you have frequent problems with
mouth odor.

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